Floating vent device

ABSTRACT

The invention is a floating vent device comprising a pair of members together defining a chamber, a gas permeable porous carbon body subdividing said chamber into two zones of which a first is provided with at least one aperture; a float connected with said pair of members so as to permit them to float above a body of liquid, and a tube projecting axially through said float, through said first zone and in air-tight fashion through said carbon body into said second zone. The other end of the tube is connected to a closure for a container and communicates with the outside atmosphere through an orifice in the closure.

United States Patent McKean [4 1 June 27, 1972 54] FLOATING VENT DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Jack H. McKean, Mission, Kans. 641,201 8/1950 Great Britain ..220/44 R [73] Assigneez Chemagro Corporation, Kansas City, Mo. Primary Examiner joseph R- Leela [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1970 Assistant Examiner-James R. Garrett [21 1 pp No; 94,701 Attorney--Burgess, Dinklage & Sprung i [57] ABSTRACT U.S. CI. "220/4; The invention is a floating vent device comprising a pair of v members together defining a chamber, a gas permeable [58] held of Search ..220/44 R, porous carbon body subdividing Said chamber into two zones of which a first is provided with at least one aperture; a float I 56] References Cited connected with said pair of members so as to permit them to float above a body of liquid, and a tube projecting axially UNITED STATES PATENTS through said float, through said first zone and in air-tight fashion through said carbon body into said second zone. The Birgler other end of the tube is connected to a closure for a container 1,871,055 8/1932 Hasbmuck 220/44 R UX and communicates with the outside atmosphere through an 2,665,091 1/1954 Starck ..220/44 R X ifi in the closure 2,679,333 5/1954 Starck ...220/44 R X 3,243,071 3/1966 Kimmel ....220/44 R X 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATE'NTEnJum I972 INVENTOR JACK R. M: KEAN BURGESS. DINKLAGE &

SPRUNG ATTORNEYS.

FLOATING VENT DEVICE In operation, the float is dropped into liquid in a container through the mouth thereof and the mouth is then closed with the closure. If gas is generated inside the container, it will pass from the first zone, in communication with the gas space in the in the container, through the porous carbon body into the second zone from which it will exit to the outside atmosphere through the tube. Liquid will not be able to leave since it cannot pass through the carbon body. Similarly, outside atmosphere cannot enter the container since the pressure is not great enough to drive it through the carbon body.

The present invention relates to a device for venting gases which may be generated within a closed container.

Certain liquids upon storage in closed containers build up gas pressure within the container due either to volatilization as a result of temperature changes or due to decomposition with generation of gas. To prevent rupture of the container, it has proven desirable to vent the excess gas. Devices have been provided for this purpose in the prior art operating in such fashion that the gas from within the container can escape but liquid cannot simultaneously escape nor can gas from the outside atmosphere enter the container. U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,071 describes suitable closure members for this purpose. While these operate quite satisfactorily in normal usage, problems sometimes arise in the event the container is tipped on its side or it is shaken about during storage, as during transportation.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a gas vent which will permit discharge of gas from within the closed container without leakage of liquid from the container, or back flow into the container of the external gaseous atmosphere, which device is operable independent of the positioning of the container, i.e. whether the container stands upright or on its side.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a vent device the principal portion of which floats on the surface of a liquid within the container so that another portion carried thereby will extend into the gas space above the liquid regardless of whether the container is upright or on its side, or moves from one position to the other during the course of storage. The device comprises a pair of members which together define a chamber that is subdivided into two zones by a gas permeable member such as a porous film or carbon body. A float is connected with said pair of members so as to position the chamber above the body of liquid. The first, i.e. lower, zone is provided with at least one aperture which communicates with the atmosphere within the container'so that gas and/or liquid can enter the first zone. Gas can move from the first zone through the gas permeable seal into the second zone but liquid cannot and it will merely fall back down and drain out through the aperture.

A tube such as a flexible plastic body extends from the second zone in liquid-tight arrangement through the seal into first zone, then substantially axially through the float. The other end of the tube is connected to the container closure about an orifice in the closure by which the tube vents to the outside atmosphere.

In practice, it has been found that the tube must extend substantially axially through the float; other arrangements have resulted in the whole floating vent device being tilted on its side so that the aperture into the first zone might be covered with liquid and thus prevent entrance of gas, or the first zone might become filled with liquid in whole or in part and prevent contact between the gas and gas permeable member.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a sectional view of a portion of a closed container having the floating vent device of the present invention, shown in full; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the float and tube portion of the device of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in FIG. 1 there is shown a container 10, in this case made of glass, having a neck 12 terminating in a mouth which is closed by a conventional closure 14 made of plastic or the like. In this embodirnent the top of closure 14 has an orifice 16 therein and one end of plastic tube 18 is heat-sealed to the top of closure 14 so as to surround orifice l6. Tube 18 extends into the liquid 20 contained in container 10 and enters a floating vent device 22 comprising a cup-shaped member 24 provided with an axial passageway 26 surrounded by material extending approximately to the top of the cup. A grommet 28 sits in a suitably shaped recess in the cup member 24. The member 24 is provided around its inner periphery adjacent its top with a groove 30. A collar member 32 comprising a flange 34 and a collar or wall 36 mates with the member 24 so that flange 34 sits in groove 30 with the central portion of the collar member 30 resting on the grommet 28 and associated portion of element 24. The collar 36 is provided with two apertures 38 and 40 extending therethrough. Adjacent its top, collar 36 is provided with a peripheral groove 42 providing a seat for a purpose later described. At its inside top, collar 36 is provided with an annular step 44 on which a porous carbon disc 46 sits. A grommet 48 extends through a suitable aperture in the disc 46 A hemispherical cap member 50 is provided about its inner edge with an annular projection 52 which mates with recess 42 to form a seal therebetween.

The cross-sectional configuration of the passageways in the grommets 28 and 48 are such that tube 18 projecting therethrough forms a seal therewith, the end of tube 18 terminating in the upper zone of the chamber defined between cap 50 and collar 36. A lower zone is defined between the disc 46 and thecollar.

To assemble the valve, the end of the tube 18 is inserted through axial passageway 26 of member 24 and through grommet 28 thereabove. Grommet 28 is then moved down into its seat in member 24 whereby its compresses the outside of the tube ever so slightly so as to form a seal therewith. The tube is next passed through the axial aperture in collar member and then through the central passageway in carbon disc 46 and through grommet 48. The flange 34 of collar member 32 is then flexed so as to be force fit into groove 30 of element 24 and graphite disc 46 is moved down on to its seat. Grommet 48 is then pushed into its own seat in disc 46 and its compression ensures a tight seal about tube 18. Then cap 50 is snap fit over collar 36 so that projection 52 seats in groove 42.

The device is now assembled and ready for use. The external dimension of member 24 is no greater than that of closure 14. Thus, the device of FIG. 2 after assembly is dropped through the opening in a container in which liquid is or will be stored. After liquid is put in the container the mouth of the container 10 is closed with closure 14. Because of the annular hollow defined by the element 24 and flange 34 the structure of FIG. 2 will float on top of the liquid and, because of the symetrical arrangement of elements, it will be maintained in upright condition; by contrast, other arrangements experimented with wherein the tube was not axially disposed upon occasion caused the float to assume a non-vertical position in which it was rendered inoperative.

In the event of splashing of liquid due to movement of the container, or foaming, liquid may enter through apertures 38 and 40 into the lower zone defined by disc 46 and collar 36 but the seating of the disc prevents the liquid from entering the upper zone. If gas is generated or pressure builds up within the container the gas will enter through the same apertures 38 and 40 into the lower zone, but like the liquid, cannot pass directly into the upper zone. Instead, the pressure differential across disc 46 will result in the gradual passage of gas through the porous disc from the lower zone into the upper zone of the chamber which the two zones together make up. From such upper zone the gas will vent through the tube which extends through the closure 14 and out of the orifice 16 to the atmosphere.

In the preferred embodiment each component of the vent device is formed of plastic and the rigidity is sufficient to form the requisite gas and/or liquids seals. At the same time, the rigidity must not be so great as to prevent minor temporary deformation of the type required to form a snap-fit. Metals could of course be substituted for plastic in the various parts but in such event gasketing might be desirable to ensure proper fit. y

The particular shapes of the component parts can be varied widely, as for example, the collar member 32 could be integral with the wall portion 24 and flotation achieved by closing off the downwardly open mouth. In another alternative, flotation could be achieved by using a solid float formed of a cellular plastic such as a polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, or other plastic into which air has been whipped, i.e. any body of low overall specific gravity is suitable.

While two apertures 38 and 40 have been shown for entry of gas and run off of liquid, it is possible to use only one, although preferably more than one is used and they are symmetrically arranged to afford balance to the structure. Similarly multiple tubes 18 couldbe provided so long as they are substantially symmetrically arranged relative to the axis of the overall device. Little benefit is obtained however, in using more than one and, as noted, by having its axis coincident with that of the structure, operation is enhanced and there is no possibility of its tipping over and become inactive. In place of a porous carbon body 46, other structures capable of transmitting gas but not liquid can be employed and the specific structure may depend upon the gases which it is predicted will be generated. In place of a rigid body it is possible to use a flexible body such as a sheet of film of plastic which may be held in place across the top of collar member 32 by the interengagement between groove 42 and projection 52. In such event it is preferable to have some sort of solid support since the tube must extend through it and for this reason a single member serving both as support for the tube and as the gas transmitting agent is preferred.

The container closure 14 can be of any conventional type and that shown in FIG. 1 is known as a Reike Flexspout which has been modified solely by the provision of orifice 16 and by the joining of the tube end to the underside of the top of the container closure by heat sealing so as to' surround orifice 16. Alternatively, the tube can extend snugly through an aperture in the closure rather than being fused thereto.

Suitable materials of construction comprise polyolefins, nylon, polyacetal, vinyl, ABS and the like, depending on the properties'desired as well as on the chemicals with which the device is to come in contact and to which it should be inert. In actual use a float about 2 inches in diameter for use with a wide-mouthed container has proven efiective.

It will be appreciated that the instant specification and samples are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A floating vent device comprising (a) a float comprising a body of low overall specific gravity, (b) a cylindrical wall member extending upwardly from the top face of said float,

(c) a cap member mounted upon the upper end of said wall member, said wall and cap members being carried by said float and defining a chamber with one another, (d) a gas permeable seal subdividing said chamber into two zones, said wall member being provided with at least one aperture extending between a first and lowermost one of said zones and the outside, said float andseal being provided with a substantially axial passageway afi'ording communication between the second zone, the first zone and the outside beyond the axial passageway of said float, and (e) a tube extending from outside through said axial passageway of said float, through said first zone, through said seal and into said second zone, whereby upon floating said float upon a body of liquid in a closed container and effecting communication between the end of said tube and the space outside said container, gas within said container can enter said first zone through said aperture, can pass through said seal into said second zone, enter said tube and upon passage therethrough leave said container. I

2. A vent device according to claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a porous carbon body, and said chamber includes a seat for said body so as to form a liquid-tight seal between said zones.

3. A vent device according to claim 1 further including (f) a closure for said container, said closure being provided with an orifice, said tube being joined to said closure about said orifice so that gas will vent from said container through said orifice in said closure.

4. A vent device according to claim 3 in combination with a container, said container having a mouth of larger dimensions than said float but of such size as to be closed by said closure.

5. A vent device according to claim 1, wherein said float comprises (i) a cylindrical body provided with an annular open-topped cavity, and (ii) a closure member designed to close off the open top of said cavity, said closure member including a cylindrical wall projecting away from said float and constituting the upwardly extending wall member of said chamber.

6. A vent device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of (A) said closure member and (B) said cylindrical body of said float, and said cap, are made of yieldable resilient material so as to be capable of being assembled and disassembled by a snap-fit.

7. A vent device according to claim 5, wherein said cylindrical wall is stepped in cross-section so as to provide a seat for said seal.

8. A vent device according to claim 6, wherein said seal comprises a porous carbon body, said cylindrical wall being stepped in cross-section so as to provide a seat for said carbon body, said device further including a closure for said container, said closure being provided with an orifice, said tube being joined to said closure about said orifice so that gas will vent from said container through said orifice in said closure. 

1. A floating vent device comprising (a) a float comprising a body of low overall specific gravity, (b) a cylindrical wall member extending upwardly from the top face of said float, (c) a cap member mounted upon the upper end of said wall member, said wall and cap members being carried by said float and defining a chamber with one another, (d) a gas permeable seal subdividing said chamber into two zones, said wall member being provided with at least one aperture extending between a first and lowermost one of said zones and the outside, said float and seal being provided with a substantially axial passageway affording communication between the second zone, the first zone and the outside beyond the axial passageway of said float, and (e) a tube extending from outside through said axial passageway of said float, through said first zone, through said seal and into said second zone, whereby upon floating said float upon a body of liquid in a closed container and effecting communication between the end of said tube and the space outside said container, gas within said container can enter said first zone through said aperture, can pass through said seal into said second zone, enter said tube and upon passage therethrough leave said container.
 2. A vent device according to claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a porous carbon body, and said chamber includes a seat for said body so as to form a liquid-tight seal between said zones.
 3. A vent device according to claim 1 further including (f) a closure for said container, said closure being provided with an orifice, said tube being joined to said closure about said orifice so that gas will vent from said container through said orifice in said closure.
 4. A vent device according to claim 3 in combination with a container, said container having a mouth of larger dimensions than said float but of such size as to be closed by said closure.
 5. A vent device according to claim 1, wherein said float comprises (i) a cylindrical body provided with an annular open-topped cavity, and (ii) a closure member designed to close off the open top of said cavity, said closure member including a cylindrical wall projecting away from said float and constituting the upwardly extending wall member of said chamber.
 6. A vent device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of (A) said closure member and (B) said cylindrical body of said float, and said cap, are made of yieldable resilient material so as to be capable of being assembled and disassembled by a snap-fit.
 7. A vent device according to claim 5, wherein said cylindrical wall is stepped in cross-section so as to provide a seat for said seal.
 8. A vent device according to claim 6, wherein said seal comprises a porous carbon body, said cylindrical wall being stepped in cross-section so as to provide a seat for said carbon body, said device further including a closure for said container, said closure being provided with an orifice, said tube being joined to said closure about said orifice so that gas will vent from said container through said orifice in said closure. 